The Trinity Spirit fire last week may have spilled 50,000 barrels of oil into waters off Ondo State, the local government has warned.
© Supplied by NOSDRAOndo State said it had received a preliminary report on the explosion. It is not clear what triggered the disaster on the floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel on OML 108.
The state said there had been a “massive spill of over 50,000 barrels” and this was a “high-rated environmental disaster. It “poses great danger” to the local people, Ondo State said.
Nigeria Minister for the Environment Sharon Ikeazor said the FPSO had 50,000-60,000 barrels of oil on board.
A statement from the ministry said various agencies had carried out a joint investigation visit to the FPSO on February 5. These included National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Ondo State Ministry of Environment, community representatives and Shebah Exploration and Production Co. staff.
The ministry statement said there was “sheen and emulsified oil” around the vessel.
Shebah has reported three workers have been rescued. One body has been found in the water.
The company is focused on “investigations towards establishing the whereabouts, safety, and security of the seven crew members still missing, clean up and limit damage to the environment, and [establishing] the cause of the explosion”.
© Supplied by NOSDRANOSDRA flew over the site on February 5 and was due to revisit the scene today.
“Government warns that toxic oil dispersants should not be deployed in Ondo State waters,” the Ondo State statement said. It expressed concern about the impact of such chemicals on people’s health.
An impact assessment must also involve representatives from the local government as well as local communities, it said.